GE : imagination at work

领 导 力 连 线 Leaders’ ConnectionCuriosity Leads to Success— An Exclusive Interview with GE CTC President Xiangli ChenIf he hadn't joined GE after graduating, he might have become a famous college professor; or he might have become aprestigious innovator of technology instead of being a driving force of building the GE China Technology Center (CTC) into whatit is today. Who is he? He is GE CTC President Xiangli Chen, a name everyone at CTC knows. In 2001, Xiangli Chen received aCEO award from Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE. In 2009, he was awarded the Magnolia Silver Award by the ShanghaiMunicipal People's Government. Recently, he received the Enterprise Innovation Award at the CBN Innovation 50 AwardCeremony. These prestigious awards have helped make Chen a legacy, leaving many at GE to wonder how he achieved thesesuccesses. To discover Chen's secrets, we had an exclusive interview with him to learn about his life's story best described in twowords: curiosity and innovation.As a young boy, Chen was curious about the way the world worked. He was not only a top student in his class, but also wasfond of asking questions and exploring the answers. He was deeply interested in physics in junior high school and continued tostudy the major in college. After graduation in 1985, in order to learn more about the outside world, he attended the Universityof Illinois in America to pursue his graduate degree and doctorate. Due to his supervisor's influence, Chen started to learn aboutmechanical engineering, and followed his supervisor to study interdisciplinary subjects such as chemistry and material science.This inspired his curiosity, gave him a keen interest in interdisciplinary subjects and accumulated broaden knowledge, laying asolid foundation for him to start working for a global corporation with diversified business interests like GE.Curiosity helped Chendiscover new thingsabout the world, andalso helped himopen new doors forresearch at GE. Afterjoining GE in 1994,Chen was a regularemployee at GE'sglobal research centerin the United States.When GE decided to setup the first global researchcenter outside the U.S. in India, hehad already served as the project leader andpassed the certification of six sigma master black beltbecause of his professional knowledge and excellentperformance. Continuing on the path of research would have led him to further achievements, but surprisingly, Chen took another roadafter hearing that the new global research center would be located in India. In his opinion, China was another market GE should tap todevelop its research capability, triggering his question "Why wasn't China receiving more attention from GE?"With this question, Chen and his Chinese colleagues discussed and analyzed the feasibility of building a research center in China. Withthe support of their leaders, they visited various GE business units including Lighting and Healthcare to learn about their tech demands.Instead of waiting to get further responses from GE Headquarter, he traveled to Beijing in November 1999. Apart from conducting QFDresearch with all business units, he also held meetings with leaders from various business units to discuss topics including the center'sfeasibility to its function and talents and experts needed to make it a reality. After collecting enough information and materials, Chenand his team were approved to set up the global research center in China with a budget of $ 200,000 at the end of the year.Embracing more than 60 world-class labs, CTC ranks first among all GE global research centers. Chen's professional highlights andinnovative spirit and ability to develop long-term plans help explain his promotion to president of CTC. To develop CTC, Chen focusedon chemistry, ceramic materials, modern processing, and plastic film, which served as starting points as the CTC grew into a largercenter for innovation. In 2003, Chen received approval from Jeff Immelt to establish the CTC in China, an acknowledgment of Chen'sleadership and his team's efforts. Since then, Chen has launched featured programs on "Reverse Innovation" and "In China, for China",making contributions to the growth of GE global business and helping his team mature.Looking back, Chen said, "I received some major achievements in the field of laser ten years ago, but establishing the CTC hassatisfied my curiosity better and given me more chances to learn about how to work with and influence people to do great things. Atthe same time, I am really thankful to be a member of GE and experience its unparalleled and profound corporate culture and havemany opportunities to develop my career." Chen's strong curiosity and innovative spirit integrate well with GE's culture, acceleratingthe speed of the CTC's development and his own career. Chen now enjoys his job at CTC working with more than 1,500 employees toachieve great things for GE and China.In his spare time, Chen plays badminton and golf with some of his CTC colleagues.Xiangli's top three keys to success: Fun facts about Xiangli:• Keep a curious heart to the world• Born in: Changsha• Dare to innovate• Favorite food: nuts such as almond• Take your job seriously• Favorite sports: football, badminton, golf• Favorite color: purple35 GE & MEGE & ME 36